Mortgage Types

Rental Property Mortgage

Purchasing or refinancing a rental property can be a lot more complicated when it comes to getting a rental property mortgage. Another industry description of it is investment property mortgage; where investment property could be a residential rental property, or none residential property.

In Canada the Chartered Banks and many National institutional lenders offer the same discounted rates and features as regular owner occupied mortgages for rental property mortgages up to 4 units. But once you go passed the 4 unit cap then the mortgage becomes categorized as a commercial transaction and it is underwritten and viewed as such, including more strenuous ‘stress’ tests and mortgage conditions and policies.

Rental property mortgage or investment property mortgages

Are still available through the Chartered Banks but they can be very difficult to be approved by them, whereas other institutional lenders and private lenders can be more flexible and forgiving on certain personal and corporate borrower realities that the banks won’t be flexible on.

Many times than not, when a borrower cannot get their rental property mortgage application approved by the Chartered Banks they approach mortgage brokers, or mortgage agents for help. Mortgage Brokers or Mortgage Agents have specialized training and knowledge of the mortgage industry and can help with finding the suitable lender who would be the right fit for their client’s rental property mortgage.

A rental property mortgage would generally be called and categorized by some as a commercial mortgage. With these types of mortgages the time needed to get the mortgage approved and closed is much longer than traditional residential owner occupied mortgages. On average it can take one month or longer to complete a rental property mortgage transaction.

There are different sub categories or types of rental property mortgages and we will go through each of them in terms of the borrowing features they have:

Multi-Unit up to 2 units

One of the units must be occupied by the owner

Can borrow up to 95% of the appraised value

Most of the time the mortgage is portable to another property

If providing less than 20% down payment the rental property mortgage must be insured through Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation CMHC

Although CMHC allows flexibility of where the down payment comes from, most lenders do not, and require that the borrower of the mortgage has the down payment in his or her bank accounts for at least three months (two months if not insured)

Maximum amortization is 25 years

All employment and credit history / strength requirements apply

Have mortgage questions about rental property mortgages or investment properties in general?Reach out to us. We can help.

Multi-Unit 3-4 units

One of the units must be occupied by the owner

Can borrow up to 90% of the appraised value

Most of the time the mortgage is portable to another property

If providing less than 20% down payment the rental property mortgage must be insured through Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation CMHC

Although CMHC allows flexibility of where the down payment comes from, most lenders do not, and require that the borrower of the mortgage has the down payment in his or her bank accounts for at least three months (two months if not insured)

Maximum amortization is 25 years

All employment and credit history / strength requirements apply

If you are considering purchasing this type of property or refinancing an existing one please contact us.

Multi-Unit 5 units and up

With any properties of 5 units or higher Chartered Banks refer the application to their commercial departments and Mortgage Brokers or Mortgage Agents would submit their applications to specialized commercial lenders, and some who have relationships with local commercial bank branches in the locality of the subject property may also submit the application to them.

Chartered Banks work with CMHC when the clients have between 15% and up to but not including 20% down payment. Some of the National lenders also work with CMHC and may accept applications with less than 20% up to 15%.

With CMHC insured rental property mortgages a minimum of 15% down payment is required when purchasing or refinancing.

Most commercial lenders for rental property mortgages work with CMHC even if the client provides 20% down payment. This is to protect themselves in the event of a default.

CMHC also charges a premium fee for each unit in the property. Detailed calculation of the premiums are done by CMHC and provided to the lender, which is then forwarded to the Mortgage Broker or Agent to share with the client. The fee schedule could also be found on CMHC’s web site

To mitigate risk and to avoid CMHC insurance lenders will consider a lower mortgage amount and higher down payment by the borrower, normally anywhere between 60% to 70% of the appraised value.

We are here to help and accompany you through the complicated mortgage application process of multi-unit 5+ properties. Contact us and let’s work together.

It’s Mortgage Renewal time

Is your mortgage coming up for renewal within the next several months? Don’t settle for less. If you don’t look around you’ll never know if your existing lender is offering you the best mortgage renewal package. This is where we come in. As a mortgage brokerage we shop around on behalf of our clients to make sure they get the best overall suited mortgage product for their mortgage renewal needs. And never compare yourself with another person’s mortgage as everyone’s personal situation could be different, which in turn will require customized approaches towards getting the right mortgage at mortgage renewal time.

Different Reasons for mortgage renewals

So you’ve been thinking lately about what to do with your mortgage. Contact us and lets think about it together. You’ve also heard that the lower your mortgage balance is the higher your home equity would be and the more money you can access from your home. That is true, as your mortgage balance decreases the percentage of the equity you can access from your home increases.

Here are some reasons why you should contact us:

You want to do a mortgage renewal for a better rate than what your current lender has offering you

You want to do a mortgage renewal to consolidate your debts and pay a lower interest rate on the new larger mortgage amount

You want to do a mortgage renewal with a new lender to add a home equity line of credit to your house

You want to do a mortgage renewal so you can change lenders to a new one because you’ve heard good things about them and like their offerings, or have other accounts with the new lender

You have other personal doing a mortgage renewal with a new lender

Perks to switch to a new lender

The lenders have internal perks, unadvertised for the general public for switching your mortgage that only the mortgage broker community knows about. For example, if we switch your mortgage the new lender could cover the legal, appraisal, and the discharge fees. Therefore not only are you benefiting with getting expert unbiased professional advice for your renewal from Trusterra Mortgage, you are also getting competitive mortgage rates, and are switching your mortgage at minimal cost to you.

If you recently got a new mortgage or renewed your existing one, you can always give us your details and let us know when to contact you for when the time comes to renew again by using our free Mortgage Renewal Reminder Service.

Ready to start or maybe you have some questions to ask first? Contact us and we’d be happy to help you.

Americans buying Canadian Real Estate

With the value of the Canadian dollar being so low in comparison to the US dollar, it’s never been a better time as it is now for Americans buying Canadian real estate.

Now that the U.S. dollar has so much buying power here in Canada, American’s are finding it difficult to avoid the opportunity to invest in their second home, or vacation property in such places as cottage country in Alberta or Ontario.

If you have considered the possibility of purchasing real estate in Canada we can help you with any mortgage related matters. As well, we would be able to connect you to Realtors in the area you are considering to buy. Contact us to find out more about your options.

Americans buying Canadian real estate are finding many options of properties to choose from with reasonable down payment requirements from the Canadian lenders.

Another good reason why Americans are buying Canadian real estate is due to their close proximity to Canada, the longest border in the world and only a few hours away in many instances.

Having very similar credit score rating systems in Canada and the United States of America the Canadian lenders accept U.S. credit reports and employment making the mortgage application process fairly routine and the same as the American would go through in the U.S.

VariablevsAdjustable Rate Mortgage

Did you know there are two types of mortgages whose interest rate can change as per the change in the lending institutions prime rate? That’s right, the two types are the Variable Rate Mortgage and the Adjustable Rate Mortgage.

You now might be asking what is the difference between a variable vs adjustable rate mortgage. In this post we provide a general overview of each one and hopefully provide a clear explanation to your question what is the difference between a variable vs adjustable rate mortgage.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage – ARM

Payments automatically adjust with changes in the prime rate of the lending institution your mortgage is with to ensure that you maintain the original amortization schedule of your mortgage. The rate varies during the term of the adjustable rate mortgage.

The interest rate can change from time to time because it changes when the prime rate changes.

If your interest rate rises, the mortgage payment amount will also increase.

One advantage of this product is you can have the ability to potentially lower, short-term interest rates.

Variable Rate Mortgage – VRM

The main difference with a variable vs adjustable rate mortgage is that the mortgage payments with the variable product remains fixed for the duration of the term; as the interest rate changes with any fluctuations in the prime rate. If the prime rate decreases, more of the mortgage payment will go towards paying off the principal; if the prime rate increases, more of the mortgage payment will go towards interest costs.

Your amortization period (number of years to repay the mortgage) may vary and be longer if rates have risen or be shorter if rates have fallen since the start of the term.

With both the Variable Rate Mortgage and the Adjustable Rate Mortgage you can always convert your mortgage into a fixed rate mortgage should you feel that the prime rate is rising or don’t have the tolerance anymore of rate fluctuations. Most of the time, the variable and adjustable interest rates are lower than the fixed rates.

If you still are not sure of which one is better or what the main differences are between a variable vs adjustable rate mortgage we encourage you to contact us with your questions and we would be happy to answer them. You may also like to add your remarks and questions in the comment section below.

Variable Rate vs Fixed Rate Mortgage

This is probably one of the most popular and famous questions of all times in the real estate mortgage financing world; variable rate vs fixed rate mortgage. Which one is better? or Which one is worse? How do you decide which mortgage product is good for you?

To look at variable rate vs fixed rate mortgage as a question for your own good would be right for everyone depending on their own unique needs and tolerances.

A fixed rate mortgage has a rate guaranty for the term of the mortgage. For example, if you get the 5 year closed fixed rate, then, you are guaranteed to hold on to your rate for the full five years without it changing. There is a sense of security and closure for you knowing that you don’t have to worry about the fixed rate changing during the life of your mortgage term. Even if you are an investor of real estate, this type of a mortgage can be beneficial to you because you know exactly what the interest rate will be and can calculate your R.O.I. accurately and work into your formula other expenses, which would allow you to know exactly what your net income could be each year. One down side to a fixed rate mortgage is the fact that if you ever decide to break the term / contract in the middle of it, the penalty can be significantly higher than if you were to break a variable mortgage.

A variable rate mortgage many times starts with a much lower interest rate than its counterpart fixed term rate. The variable interest rate is a discount that you would get from the lender against it’s prime lending rate. For those who are not tolerant of minor rate adjustments throughout the term of a variable rate mortgage, this product might not be your cup of tea. Currently the Bank of Canada has not changed its stance on the prime lending rate and it has not changed since September 9, 2010. However, the lenders have changed their discounts off of the prime rate. Several years ago you could have been approved for a variable rate as low as Prime minus .90%. Since then the current average discount for the closed variable rate is Prime -.50%. If you are planning to break your mortgage in the middle of its term, the penalty for the closed variable rate mortgage is three months interest payments, which for the majority of the time comes out a lot less than if you were to break a closed fixed rate mortgage that uses a formula called interest rate differential to calculate the penalty amount.

However, overall, statistics have shown that you can save more money if you go with a variable rate vs fixed rate mortgage. As of the date of writing this post the 5 year fixed closed mortgage is 2.99% and the 5 year closed variable mortgage is Prime -.50% = 2.50%.

The Right Way to Build an Eco-Friendly House

Simplicity seems to be the main suggestion to the building process and the title of the article “The Right way to build an eco-friendly house” seems to give it away.

In Canada the idea to build an eco-friendly house is slowly starting to catch on with the general public, especially as the cost of living and maintaining a home is rising; to be more specific water, gas and electricity.

First time home buyers or fist time eco-friendly home builders should do their research very carefully to learn as much as they can about this up and coming industry and way of living before making any final decisions on purchasing an already built eco-friendly home, or starting from scratch and building their own eco-friendly home.

For some real life example of these types of homes have a read of the below article on our Facebook page, or visit the site directly.

Variable vs Fixed rate mortgage

When trying to decide which mortgage type to go with, a variable vs fixed rate mortgage, you have to ask yourself how tolerant you are with risk. A variable rate mortgage traditionally has a better discounted rate than the fixed rate mortgage, but it can change at any time depending on what decision the Bank of Canada makes on its overnight rate. As the Bank of Canada increases or decreases its overnight rate, so too will the chartered banks and other lenders that borrow money from the Bank of Canada increase or decrease their prime lending rates, which in turn affects the variable rate.

If you don’t want to worry about interest rates going up or down during the contractual term that you have agreed upon with your mortgage, then the best bet would be to go with a fixed rate term. This way you know for sure that your mortgage interest rate is locked in and guaranteed not to change within the term. For example, if you go with a 5 year closed fixed term; your mortgage interest rate will not change until the end of the fifth year. For some, the disadvantage to this mortgage product is the fact that your rate will not go down should the Bank of Canada lower its overnight lending rate as would be the case with the variable rate mortgage product.

When contemplating whether to go with variable vs fixed rate mortgage, know that it is ultimately up to the lender to decide if they are going to change their prime rate or not every time the Bank of Canada changes their rate. Sometimes Banks and other lenders of mortgage products will choose not to change their prime rate although the Bank of Canada changes theirs. Historically though, whenever the Bank of Canada changes their overnight rate, shortly after the banks adjust their rates accordingly.

Others might be thinking to break their mortgage in the middle of the term; whether it be for the reason of selling their home to take advantage of increased equity and home value due to favorable market conditions, or because they may not be happy with the current lender or interest rate, and for any other reason. To break a fixed term mortgage is more expensive than to break a variable rate mortgage. The lenders use different formulas to calculate the mortgage penalty to break the mortgage. With the fixed term, the lenders use a formula called Interest Rate Differential, and with the variable rate they only charge the client three months of interest payments. Therefore it can be much cheaper to break a variable vs fixed rate mortgage.

When considering these matters it is always best to consult with a mortgage broker or mortgage agent. These professionals are trained, and licensed to work on your behalf and to give you unbiased and sound advice regarding your mortgage options.

What is a private mortgage you ask? A private mortgage is a loan provided by individuals who wish to gain a higher return on their investment focused funds in comparison to depositing their money into a regular savings bank account, or an investment type of an account with low yields. A private mortgage is secured against the property that the borrower has requested the private mortgage for.

Private mortgages can be an accumulation of a large number of investors who have pooled their personal or business / investment related funds into a trust account, or single individuals with enough of their own money. These funds are managed by a mortgage brokerage company or a company solely created for the reason of lending out private funds for the purpose of real estate financing.

To get approved for a private mortgage is not as difficult as to get approved for a mortgage from a lender such as the chartered banks; there are less restrictions in comparison to the other extreme, which are the chartered banks that require detailed information from the borrower, such as employment / source of income, proof of down payment, and a healthy and strong credit score with no recent credit issues. In comparison, the most important item that a private lender looks at is the property that is being purchased; where is it located, what is its condition, and can it be sold if the borrower defaults on their mortgage payments and the private lender has to foreclose and sell the property.

A private mortgage comes with a much higher interest rate and there is a onetime lender fee that must be paid by the borrower of the private mortgage. Normally what happens is that the borrower cannot be approved for a regular mortgage from a bank or the other specialty mortgage lenders, and what is left is a private mortgage. These types of mortgages are contracted to be paid in full in a short period of time, such as one year or less, and they are used many times as a second mortgage to cover up the difference of the down payment that the borrower does not have.

For example, the borrower does not get approved by one of the big banks in Canada, and his or her mortgage broker or agent will take their client to the next available option, which are what we call the ‘B’ lenders who deal with special case scenarios, such as those who have had previous bankruptcy’s, self-employed individuals who can’t prove their income, those with bad credit, …etc. You get the picture. The ‘B’ lenders will potentially give the client a mortgage loan no more than 80 – 85% of the real estate value; otherwise known as LTV Loan To Value. That means if the borrower does not have enough of the remainder of the funds in the form of a down payment, then they are left with trying to get a private lender to give them a private 2nd mortgage which would cover part of the down payment and the borrower would provide the rest of it. No lender would ever go up to 100% financing on these special case scenario types of deals. Therefore, the 1st mortgage lender will go up to a maximum of 80 – 85%, then they will stipulate in their contract that the borrower can get a 2nd mortgage up to an additional 5 – 10% and the rest the borrower will have to provide from his or her own resources.

Pros

– Quick money

– Straight forward approval process

– Look at the property more than the applicant

Cons

– High interest rates

– Lender fees

– Short term borrowing solution; paid back usually by one year or less

– Because it’s short term, at the end you have to refinance mortgage to pay back the 2nd mortgage and costs occur again in a short period of time

Home Buying Step by Step – Step 4 The Buying Process

Word-of-mouthTell everyone you know that you are looking for a new home. Surprising things sometimes happen. For example, you might hear about a home that is just becoming available on the market.

Newspapers and real estate magazinesCheck the new homes section in daily newspapers. Look for the free real estate magazines available at newsstands, convenience stores and other outlets. These publications are free and give pictures and short descriptions of homes for sale.

The InternetCheck out real estate websites, such as realtor.ca. These websites give information and pictures of a wide range of properties. Most sites let you search by location, price, number of bedrooms, and other features.

“For Sale” signsDrive, bike or walk around a neighbourhood that interests you and look for “For Sale” signs. This is a good way to find homes that are being sold by the owner and are not listed with an agent.

Visit new development sitesIf you are looking for a newly built home, you can see available models and get information from builders.

Work with a realtorFor most buyers, a realtor is key to finding the right home.

Useful Tips for Your Search

Keep recordsWhether you have a realtor or are looking by yourself, visit lots of homes before choosing one. Some things to compare are the home’s energy rating, utility costs, property taxes and major repairs. These will affect your monthly housing expenses. You can ask to see copies of utility and other bills. Use the CMHC Home Hunting Comparison Worksheet to make sure you get all the information you need to compare homes.

Check out the property’s current financingIf the existing mortgage on the home is favourable, it may be possible to take it over from the vendor. It may even be possible to get a vendor take back mortgage, to help close the deal.

Think twiceEven if a home seems perfect, go back and take a closer, more critical look at it. Visit it on different days and different times of the day. Chat with the neighbours. Look deeper — don’t be distracted by attractive surface details.

Energy RatingSome houses and most new homes in Canada have an Energy Rating that describes the energy efficiency of the home. An energy-rated home usually has a sticker with the rating on the electrical panel. The energy rating is on a 0 – 100 scale. The higher the rating, the more energy-efficient is the home, and the less it costs to operate.

CMHC statistics and analysisCMHC has the latest statistical information and analysis of housing trends. Our Market Analysis Centre tracks information for local, provincial and national markets.

Making an Offer to Purchase

After you have found the home you want to buy, you need to give the vendor an Offer to Purchase (sometimes called an Agreement of Purchase and Sale). It is very helpful to work with a realtor (and/or a lawyer/notary) to prepare your offer. The Offer to Purchase is a legal document and should be carefully prepared.

These items are typically included:

NamesYour legal name, the name of the vendor and the legal civic address of the property.

PriceThe price you are offering to pay.

Things includedAny items in or around the home that you think are included in the sale should be specifically stated in your offer. Some examples might be window coverings and appliances.

Amount of your deposit

The closing dayThe closing day is the date you take possession of the home. It is usually 30 – 60 days after the date of agreement. But, it can be 90 days, or even longer.

Request for a current land survey of the property.

Date the offer expiresAfter this date the offer becomes null and void — that means it’s no longer valid.

Other conditionsOther conditions may include a satisfactory home inspection report, a property appraisal, and lender approval of mortgage financing. This means that the contract will become final only when the conditions are met.

What Happens After You Make an Offer to Purchase?

Imagine that your realtor has helped you prepare an Offer to Purchase. This offer includes all the details of the sale. To be extra cautious (since you know an Offer to Purchase is legally binding) ask your lawyer to look at it before showing it to the vendor. The realtor presents the offer to the vendor. What can you expect to happen next? There are three possible responses.

Response 1The vendor accepts your offer. The deal is concluded and you move on to the next steps in the buying process.

Response 2The vendor makes a counter-offer. The counter-offer might ask for a higher price, or different terms. You can sign the offer back to the vendor, offering a higher price than your original offer, but lower than the vendor’s counter-offer. If the vender accepts this counter-offer, the deal is concluded.

Response 3The vendor makes a counter-offer, asking for a higher price or different terms. If a counter-offer is returned to you at a higher price, ensure that you know exactly how much you can afford before you start negotiating. You don’t want to get caught up in the heat of the moment with costs you can’t afford. You reject the counter-offer because the price is still too high, or you can’t agree to the conditions. The sale doesn’t go through, and your deposit is returned.

Getting a Mortgage

Once your Offer to Purchase has been accepted, go to see your lender. Your lender will verify (and update, if necessary) your financial information and put together what’s needed to complete the mortgage application. Your lender may ask you to get a property appraisal, a land survey, or both. You may also be asked to get title insurance. Your lender will tell you about the various types of mortgages, terms, interest rates, amortization periods and, payment schedules available.

Depending on your down payment, you may have a conventional mortgage or a high-ratio mortgage.

Types of Mortgages

Conventional Mortgage

A conventional mortgage is a mortgage loan that is equal to, or less than, 80% of the lending value of the property. The lending value is the property’s purchase price or market value — whichever is less. For a conventional mortgage, the down payment is at least 20% of the purchase price or market value.

High-ratio Mortgage

If your down payment is less than 20% of the home price, you will typically need a high-ratio mortgage. A high-ratio mortgage usually requires mortgage loan insurance. CMHC is a major provider of mortgage loan insurance. Your lender may add the mortgage loan insurance premium to your mortgage or ask you to pay it in full upon closing.

Mortgage Term

Your lender will tell you about the term options for the mortgage. The term is the length of time that the mortgage contract conditions, including interest rate, will be fixed. The term can be from six months up to ten years. A longer term (for example, five years) lets you plan ahead. It also protects you from interest rate increases. Think carefully about the term that you want, and don’t be afraid to ask your lender to figure out the differences between a one, two, five-year (or longer) term mortgage.

Mortgage Interest Rates

Mortgage interest rates are fixed, variable or adjustable.

Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate

A fixed mortgage interest rate is a locked-in rate that will not increase for the term of the mortgage.

Variable Mortgage Interest Rate

A variable rate fluctuates based on market conditions. The mortgage payment remains unchanged.

Adjustable Mortgage Interest Rate

With an adjustable rate, both the interest rate and the mortgage payment vary, based on market conditions.

Open or Closed Mortgage

Closed Mortgage

A closed mortgage cannot be paid off, in whole or in part, before the end of its term. With a closed mortgage you must make only your monthly payments — you cannot pay more than the agreed payment. A closed mortgage is a good choice if you’d like to have a fixed monthly payment. With it you can carefully plan your monthly expenses. But, a closed mortgage is not flexible. There are often penalties, or restrictive conditions, if you want to pay an additional amount. A closed mortgage may be a poor choice if you decide to move before the end of the term, or if you want to benefit from a decrease of interest rates.

Open Mortgage

An open mortgage is flexible. That means that you can usually pay off part of it, or the entire amount at any time without penalty. An open mortgage can be a good choice if you plan to sell your home in the near future. It can also be a good choice if you want to pay off a large sum of your mortgage loan. Most lenders let you convert an open mortgage to a closed mortgage at any time, although you may have to pay a small fee.

Amortization

Amortization is the length of time the entire mortgage debt will be repaid. Many mortgages are amortized over 25 years, but longer periods are available. The longer the amortization, the lower your scheduled mortgage payments, but the more interest you pay in the long run. If each mortgage term is five years, and the mortgage is amortized over 20 years, you will have to renegotiate the mortgage four times (every five years).

Payment Schedule

A mortgage loan is repaid in regular payments — monthly, biweekly or weekly. More frequent payment schedules (for example weekly) can save some interest costs by reducing the outstanding principal balance more quickly. The more payments you make in a year, the lower the overall interest you have to pay on your mortgage.

New Home Warranty Programs

Each province has new home warranty programs.

British Columbia

See the Homeowner Protection Office at www.hpo.bc.ca for the most up-to-date list of warranty programs. These include:

Closing day is the day when you finally take legal possession and get to call the house your home. The final signing usually happens at the lawyer or notary’s office.

These are the things that happen on closing day:

Your lender will give the mortgage money to your lawyer/notary.

You must give the down payment (minus the deposit) to your lawyer/notary. You must also give the remaining closing costs.

Your lawyer/notary

Pays the vendor

Registers the home in your name

Gives you the deed and the keys to your new home

Moving

Hiring a Mover

When planning your move, friends or relatives may be able to recommend a professional moving company. Don’t forget to ask the mover for references. Ask the mover for an estimate and outline of fees (Do they charge a flat rate or hourly fee?). Once you’ve chosen a mover, ask them to come to your home to see what will be moved in case the estimate needs to be changed.

You’ll want to ensure that your belongings are insured during the move. Your home or property insurance may cover goods in transit. Call your broker or insurance company to be sure. Ask if you are fully covered. Many moving companies offer additional insurance coverage. Be aware that professional movers are not responsible for items such as jewellery, money, or important papers. Move these yourself to keep them safe.

If you decide to do your own packing, keep in mind that you will need the proper materials, and that packing can take up a lot of time.

Moving Day

On moving day, go through the house with the van supervisor and give him (or her) any special instructions. The supervisor will note the condition of your goods on an inventory list. Go through the house with the supervisor to make sure the list is complete and accurate. When the van arrives at your new home, mark off the items on the mover’s list as they are unloaded. If you paid for the movers to unpack boxes and remove packing materials, remember that they will not put dishes or linens into cupboards.

Moving day is almost always tiring. But, planning ahead will make the transition as smooth as possible.

Moving Costs

The amount you spend depends on your decisions about many things. Here are some to think about:

Do you want to hire professional movers?

If so, will it be a large company, or a smaller local moving company?

Will you need to buy insurance to protect your items in transit?

If you plan to move yourself, will you rent a vehicle?

Will your current auto or home insurance policy cover your items during the move?

Will you have to pay utility companies a fee to connect their services in your new home? Are there other utility charges (such as a deposit)?

Post-Closing Costs

Changing the Locks

When you move into your new home you’ll want to change the exterior door locks for security. After all, you want only the people you choose to have the key to your new home. You can change the locks yourself, or call a locksmith to do the job.

Cleaning

Both your old home and your new home should be given a thorough cleaning at moving time. Whether you’re buying cleaning supplies and doing it yourself, or hiring someone to clean for you, the costs can really add up. Plan for this expense.

Decorating

You might want to re-paint, replace some light fixtures, refinish the floor, re-carpet, or do any number of other re-decorating tasks. Plan your budget, and consider postponing some projects for a period of time.

Appliances

If your offer to purchase didn’t include appliances, and if you don’t have your own, you will have to buy them when you move into your new home. Some appliances might have installation charges.

Tools and Equipment

When you own your own home, you can no longer call the landlord to do repairs. You’ll need to own some basic hand tools and possibly some gardening and snow clearing equipment.